Page 11 of Stepbrothered by the Mountain Man

He looks at me seriously. “Nothing could damage or take away our relationship, My. We’re family. Family is forever. The entire place could burn to the ground and it wouldn’t separate us. This is just a rough patch we’ll get through. We’ll get it sorted.”

The Woods brothers always got it sorted together and I always felt like a bystander. A kid who couldn’t contribute much of anything.

“I want to help,” I say. “I think I have a plan. Remember the meeting I told you about earlier? It’s in an hour. I’m going to salvage an outfit from my room, then head out.”

He looks apprehensive. “And you still won’t tell me what this plan is?”

“Jinxes remember?”

“I don’t believe in jinxes,” he deadpans.

“Well, I do.” I stick my tongue out at him. To get off the bed, I have to climb over him, and as I do so he grabs my waist, halting my movements. Damn. He looks ethereal beneath me, his hair spread across Mr. Oso like some ancient god.

The feel of his powerful hands holding my hips is enough to send a tingle straight to my slit. I swear this man could breathe on me and I’d be soaked.

“Please be careful My, and keep your phone charged so I can check in on you.”

“I’m fine—” I begin but he squeezes my hip bones and I struggle to keep my eyes from rolling into the back of my head as I imagine how hard he’d grip me if I was bouncing on his—

“I know when you’re not fine, angel. If I didn’t have to help the clean-up crew, I swear I’d be coming with you. In fact, I am.”

“No, you aren’t,” I say firmly. “It’ll ruin the surprise.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“You’ll like this one,” I promise.

He sighs. “Just keep the phone on. Don’t forget Dad and Kat are coming into town around dinner time. Don’t be late.”

Dang, with everything going on, I’d forgotten about their trip. I nod.

“Promise me, angel,” Levi says, his fingers burning into my flesh. “And Mr. Oso.” He moves his head so that the bear stares up at me accusingly.

I can’t help but smile. “I promise.”

***

When I return to the lodge, folder in hand, my lips already hurt from grinning so much. I wave at Emmy and Everly behind the coffee bar before running up the stairs two at a time.

In my room, or rather what’s left of it, I find Heath, Jaxon, their crew, Beau, and Levi all in protective gear. Most of the tree has been hacked into pieces for the woodchipper waiting outside on the driveway. The ceiling’s still gaping, of course.

The sound of a chainsaw whirring makes it so that I don’t bother to call out. Instead, I tug on Levi’s belt loop and gesture for him to come outside. Grabbing his hand as he strips off a glove, I pull him toward his bedroom. His callouses against my soft palm and his thick fingers laced between mine shoot warmth straight through me as I lead the way. When we’re finally in his room, I shut the door, muffling the sound at least partially.

“What’s that?” He asks, nodding to the folder pressed against my chest.

“My plan.” I grin. “It’s a contract, a loan to buy the property.”

His eyebrows crease immediately, causing my smile to falter.

“My, you told me three banks turned you down for a mortgage because of your short credit history. Another said that despite having a good amount for the down payment, you didn’t make enough for the monthly payments.”

“But I kept searching. I found a private money lender, and they agreed to lend me the money for the property. I have all the paperwork right here.”

His expression is severe as he takes the folder from me and eases into the oversized recliner near the wood-burning stove. I thought he’d be a little happier. I have the answer to all of our woes. With the money Beau gets for the new property, he can cover the rest of the repairs the insurance won’t, plus extend the lodge with help from Levi and Grant.

“I knew it,” he mumbles under his breath, pushing back a stray lock that’s escaped his man bun.

“Knew what?”

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